Wait, So Jeffrey Tambor Never Quit ‘Transparent’ After All?

Allegations of sexual harassment against Transparent star Jeffrey Tambor followed an all-too familiar pattern; someone bravely speaks out, investigations are launched, more claims surface and said star exits the project. We must have missed the “JK!” in Tambor’s resignation, however, as new reports suggest the accused star may return for Transparent Season 5 after all.

It started with claims of sexual harassment from Tambor’s former assistant (who herself is transgender), before series star Trace Lysettecorroborated as much and added more public allegations. It wasn’t long before Tambor issued a statement that claimed “I don’t see how I can return,” which many took as confirmation of the actor’s resignation. Now, a New York Times update on Transparent’s future reveals that “a representative for the actor disclosed to The Times recently that, in fact, Mr. Tambor had no plans to quit.”

Publicist Allan Mayer provided a longer take on Tambor’s position, which also follows a third accusation from makeup artist Tamara Delbridge:

What he said was that given the toxic atmosphere and the politicization on the set, it’s very hard for him to see how he can possibly return. But no final decision for next year has been made, either by Jeffrey or by Amazon.

At the time investigations broke, series creator Jill Soloway declined comment on claims against Tambor, and now tells the Times “I take what Van Barnes and Trace Lysette are saying very seriously.” They (Soloway identifies as gender nonbinary) wanted to let Amazon’s investigation speak for itself, though the fifth season is now said to be in “agonizing limbo,” as creators “find themselves trying to construct a fifth season that may or may not include their central character.”

Both star Trace Lysette and writer Our Lady J previously called for the series to move forward without Tambor, so as to reorient the narrative around transgender characters portrayed by transgender performers. Tambor himself even said of his 2016 Emmy win for the role that “I would not be unhappy were I the last cisgender male playing a female transgender on television.”

We’ve reached out to Soloway for comment once more, so stay tuned for the latest on Transparent’s future with Tambor.